Switch-point lock



1930. F. ISAACSON ET AL 1,735,630

SWITCH POINT LOCK Filed April 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet lMalzerfiffaagfihnan flea/184408027 mvzurons ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1930. F.ISAACSON ET AL SWITCH POINT LOCK Filed April 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Mai/er .6211

ATTORNEY enema Dee. 1a, 1930 FRED ISAACSON AND WALTER M. CAUGHLAN, OFDENVER, COLORADO swrrcnromr LOCK Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to new and useful lmprovements in electricallyoperated rallv road switches and has for the primary object, theprovision of means for holding or locking tllGSWltCh point in e1ther ofits positions, thereby obviating the possibility of the de-railing ofcar trucks caused by the switch point not remaining fully in either ofthe operative positions;

"Another object of this invention is the provision of a device which maybe easily and quickly applied to the switch operating means and whichwill maintain the switch point in either of its positions after beingthrown from one position to another. 7 I

A further object of this invention is the provision of a switch pointlock of the above stated character, which Will be simple, dur

' able and eflicient, and 'which may be manu- 7 V vention, reference istobe had to the follow factured and sold at a comparatively low cost. 7,I

With these and other objects in view as Wlll become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof. construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be heren- 1i after more fully described and claimed.

Foracomplete understanding of our ining description and accompanyingdrawings, in wh1ch: j

F gure 1 is a side elevationillustrating an 1 electrical operating meansfor a railroad I switch with our invention applied thereto.

" V invention. 7

Figure 8 is a fragmentary slde elevation 11-" Figure 2 is a plan viewillustrating a switch' point lock constructed in accordance with ourlustrating the same. v

' Figure 4 is a detail sectional vlew taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.1

Referring in detail to thedrawings, the

numeral 1 indicates a casing having located therein electrolnagnets 2and 3 having their coresjpivotally connected to the ends of an 1930,"Serial No. 444,263.

operating arm 4 by links 5 and the arm 4 is .pivotally mounted in thecasing 1 intermediate the ends thereof and has an operating tion ofelectrical operating meansjfor a railroad switch and to which ourinvention is applied. It 16 to be understood that the magnets 2' and 3are energized in the usual way by a car'approach ng the switch and theenergizing of one magnet will move the switch into one of its positionswhile 'the' energization of the other magnet will move the switch pointto its other position. In use it has been found that there'is apossibility of the switch point not fully reaching or maintaining itsoperative positions, consequently causing de-railment of the car trucksand to obviate this danger our invention is em- A supporting plate 7 isarranged in the casing 1 and carries a bolt or pivot 8 on which ismounteda bell crank lever 9. The arm 10 of the bell crank lever 9 hasone end of a coil spring 11 secured theretowhile the other end of thecoil spring is secured to the casing as shown at 12 for the purposeofholdingthe bell cranklever in either of its positions as shown by fulllines and dotted lines injFigure 2. An adjustable stop'13 is mounted ina bracket 14 carried by the plate 7 andis engaged by the "arm 15 of thebell crank lever 9 when in one of its positions or inthe position shownin full lines in Figure 2.

The link 16 includes tubular portions or elements 17 and 18 adjustablyconnected by a screw'threaded rod 19 andvthe latter is bent slightlyintermediate its ends as shown in Figure 4; to'disposethe elements 17and 18 ata slight angle relative to each other. Suitablelocking nuts 20are threaded on the rod 19 and engage with the ends ofthe elements 17 tolock said rod to said elements in any of their various adjustedpositions relative to each other. The elements 17,.and. 18 have theirouter ends closed by removable bearing blocks 21 which cooperate withhearing ele-. ments 22in receiving balls or spheres 23 on mounted bellcrank lever, tension means con-i nected to one end of the bell cranklever, a

the ends of shanks 24 formed integrally with Y screw threaded attachingportions 25. The,

elements 17 and 18 are provided with slots 26 to permit swingingmotionof the shanks and the attaching portions 25 relative tothe'elemeaeso link connected to the arm and to the bell crank lever andincluding a pair of tubular members, a rod adjustably secured to saidtubular members and bent intermediate its ends, bearing blocksadjustably mounted in. said members, and balls received by said bearingblocks and having connections with the bell crank lever and said arm.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. v

FRED ISAACSON.

WALTER M. QAUGHLAN.

ments 17 .and 18. r The bearing portions. 22 are yieldably supported inengagement with the balls; or spheres by coil springs 27. The

bearing elements -22 being yieldablysup spheres and their respectivebearing elements.

1 ported will take up wear between the balls and V The attaching portion25 is connected to the bell-crank lever and the arm as heretoforedescr1bed.

a Inoperation, when the. switch point (not shown) has been moved toeitherofits positions by the'operation ofthe electromagnets,

the, bellcrank lever 9 will swing beyond dead l center and the tenslonof the spring Wlll retain the switch point'f'ully in either of itsoperative positions consequently obviating any possibility of the switchpoint becoming positioned. so as to cause de-railment of car trucks whenpassing overthe switch.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it Will be understoodthat minor changes in construction,combination andarrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the} invention as claimed. 1" j Having thusdescrbed our inventiom what crating mechanism having an operating arm, 1

a pivotally' mounted bell crank lever, tension 4 means connected to oneend of the bell crank lever, a link pivotally'connected to the other endof the bell crank lever and to the arm and capableof adjustment tolength. and

- 2. In combination with anelectrically .operating switch pointmechanism-hav ng an tension means connected to one end of the belladapted to permit a limited-movement of the H 7 bell crank leverrelative to saidarm.

arm, a pivotallymounted bell crankleven. i

' crankflever, and an adjustable link having r universal.connectionswiththe end of thearm M U and the other end-of thfebell crank levers 3.In'combinatio-n with aswitchpoint-opcratingmechanismhaving an arm, apivotally

